Electrode pack

ABSTRACT

An electrode pack having at least two flat electrodes. The electrodes are placed on a patient and have flat contact areas, which are located on an electrode body and which have a gel, a connecting cable, and have an air-tight closure. A structure that is advantageous for handling and reliability is formed because the closure, while encircling the contact areas, has sealing means joined in an air-tight manner to both electrode bodies, and the connecting cables are guided out of the electrode bodies outside of the sealing means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an electrode pack with at least two flatelectrodes to be placed against a patient, which have flat contact areaswith a gel on an electrode body, as well as connecting cables, and havean airtight connection.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Electrodes are normally used in connection with defibrilators and needto be always capable of functioning, particularly if they are to bealways rapidly ready for action in connection with automatic externaldefibrilators (AEDs). The electrode pack is intended to assure thatcontact areas are maintained in a functioning status as long aspossible. Such an electrode pack is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No.5,402,884, and similar ones also are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos.5,579,919 and 6,048,640. Here, the packaging seals the two electrodes inan airtight manner, and the cable is also conducted through thepackaging in an airtight manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of this invention is to provide an electrode pack of the typementioned above but which makes possible a simple manipulation andwherein packaging material is saved.

This object is attained with a closure having a seal which surroundscontact areas and are brought into contact in an airtight manner withthe electrode bodies, wherein the connecting cables are conducted out ofthe electrode bodies outside of the sealing apparatus.

Thus the electrodes can be easily separated and removed from thepackaging, wherein the connecting cables are not in the way and need notbe removed separately from the packaging material. With thisconstruction it is also easy to save packaging material.

One embodiment is advantageous to handle and the construction hassealing means that have an encircling seal ring arrangement, connectedin an air-tight manner by connecting means with both electrodes and canbe pulled off.

One arrangement is advantageous for the arrangement and handling becausethe seal ring arrangement has at least one sealing bead formed on eachof the facing sides of the electrode bodies which contain the contactareas, which are congruent with respect to the two electrode bodies andare connected with each other by the connecting means. At least one sealring, which encircles the contact areas, is arranged between the facingsides of the two electrode bodies and is connected with the electrodebodies on each of its two sides facing the electrode bodies byconnecting means. Thus the electrodes are also maintained in a definedposition facing each other.

If at least one intermediate layer is arranged between the two contactareas facing each other, the contact areas are additionally protected.

In another embodiment for handling the construction has seal ringarrangement that is a part of a foil covering the contact area, whichforms at least one insulating intermediate layer between the contactareas facing each other, wherein each part is connected with anassociated electrode body by a respective connecting means. Thepackaging material can be easily removed when the electrodes areseparated.

Handling is further simplified because at least one of the twoelectrodes has a gripping tongue for pulling the two electrodes apart.

In one embodiment the at least one gripping tongue is connected to theseal ring arrangement, or to the at least one intermediate layer.

The functionally ready state of the electrodes is assured because theintermediate layer is integrated as the active means for an electricalelectrode test.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention is explained in greater detail in view of exemplaryembodiments, making reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A shows a schematic representation of an electrode pack in crosssection;

FIG. 1B shows a portion of an electrode pack as shown in FIG. 1A with amodified sealing arrangement;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the electrode pack shown in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of an electrode pack in a side view.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2 and 3 show different representations of an electrodepack 1, having a first and second electrode 2, 2′, each of which has anelectrode body 2.1, 2.1′ with a contact area 2.2, 2.2′ with a contactlayer to be placed against a patient. The contact areas of the twoelectrodes 2, 2′ face each other and are preferably separated by anintermediate layer 6. Connecting cables 5 for a connection with acontrol device, not shown, of a defibrilator are connected to each ofthe two electrode bodies 2.1, 2.1′ for charging the patient with astimulating electrical voltage and, if desired, also to perform afunctional test for determining the functional capability of theelectrodes 2,2′ even in the packaged state. The contact areas 2.2, 2.2′are closed in an airtight manner toward the exterior by a sealingarrangement with sealing means 7 and connecting means 7.1, so that thedrying out of the gel layer, which is customarily provided in thecontact area 2.2, 2.2′, is prevented, and the capability of the contactarea to function is assured over a long period of time.

The sealing means 7 comprise a seal ring, which encircles the respectivecontact area 2.2, 2.2′ in an airtight manner, as shown in FIG. 2, forexample. The connecting cables 5 are conducted out of the respectiveelectrode bodies 2.1, 2.1′ outside of the seal ring. Thus the sealingmeans 7 can be embodied in different ways, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 3.

In accordance with FIG. 1A, a bead-like or lip-like seal ring is formedon, glued to or welded to each of the facing sides of the electrodes 2,2′ of the electrode pack 1, on which contact areas 2.2, 2.2′ are alsolocated. In the packaged state, the two seal rings of the respectiveelectrodes 2,2′ are congruently connected with each other in their areasadjoining each other. Various connecting means 7.1 are conceivable forthe connection, which make possible the simple pulling of the electrodes2, 2′ apart from each other for their use, for example an adhesive, ortheir being welded together, or also a connection with agroove/protrusion arrangement, wherein the seal rings are made of asuitable elastic sealing material, for example silicon. With grippingtongues 4 attached to the electrode bodies 2.1, 2.1′ or to the sealingarrangement 7, which protrude laterally over the edges of the electrodes2, 2′, the two electrodes can be easily grasped and pulled apart fromeach other. The connecting means 2.1 are matched so that they makepossible the simple pulling apart and also assure an airtight closure.It is also possible to arrange several encircling seal rings next toeach other.

FIG. 1B shows a sealing device which is modified from the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 1A, wherein the encircling sealing means 7 areembodied as a sealing element arranged between the facing sides of thetwo electrodes 2, 2′ and are glued together or welded together with theadjoining sides of the electrode bodies 2.1, 2.1′. Here a type ofgroove/protrusion connection as described in one embodiment above ispossible. The connecting cables 5 are also conducted out of therespective electrode bodies 2.1, 2.1 outside of the sealing means 7.Also, gripping tongues 4 are advantageous.

With the embodiment represented in FIG. 3, the sealing means 7 areapplied to a cover foil of the two contact areas 2.2, 2.2′ and form, forexample, a part which is formed thereon in one piece, or is welded or isglued. In this case the cover foil, which forms the intermediate layer6, can be embodied as a single layer with two edge areas separated fromeach other, or with two layers, each with an edge area, wherein the twolayers are advantageously connected with each other for maintainingtheir positions. The sections projecting laterally beyond the respectivecontact areas 2.2, 2.2′ are connected with the respective electrodebodies 2.1, 2.1′ by connecting means 7.1 and form the sealing means 7.The connecting means 7.1 can be, for example, a suitable adhesive, or awelded connection for an airtight closure. For attachment of thegripping tongues 4 and the connection with the connecting cables 5, theelectrode pack 1 is preferably embodied in accordance with thepreviously mentioned embodiments. If a dual-layer structure of theintermediate layer 6 is made of a foil-like packaging material 3, theconnection between the two layers is stronger than the connection of thesealing means 7 with the electrode bodies 2.1, 2.1′, and the packagingmaterial of the two electrodes 2, 2′ is separated from at least oneelectrode body 2.1, 2.1′ and can be easily removed from the electrodes.

With all mentioned exemplary embodiments, the intermediate layer 6 canbe used as a dielectric device in order to perform an automaticelectrode test from time to time and to register and assure thefunctional dependability of the electrodes 2, 2′.

1. An electrode pack having at least two flat electrodes (2, 2′),positionable against a patient, which have flat contact areas (2.2,2.2′) with a gel on an electrode body (2.1, 2.1′), connecting cables(5), and an airtight connection (3, 6, 7), the electrode packcomprising: a closure (3, 6, 7) having a seal (7, 7.1; 6.1) surroundingthe contact areas (2.2, 2.2′) and contacting in an airtight mannerelectrode bodies (2.1, 2.1′), and the connecting cables (5) conductedout of the electrode bodies (2.1, 2.1′) outside of the seal (7, 7.1). 2.The electrode pack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the seal (7. 7.1)has an encircling seal ring arrangement (7) which is connected in anair-tight manner with both electrode bodies (2.1, 2.1′) by a connection(7.1), and can be pulled off.
 3. The electrode pack in accordance withclaim 2, wherein at least one of: the seal ring arrangement (7) has atleast one sealing bead formed on each of facing sides of the electrodebodies (2.1, 2.1′) which contain the contact areas (2.2, 2.2′), and arecongruent with respect to the two electrode bodies (2.1, 2.1 ′) and areconnected with each other by the connection (7.1), and the at least oneseal ring which encircles the contact areas (2.2, 2.2′) is arrangedbetween the facing sides of the two electrode bodies (2.1, 2.1′) and isconnected with the electrode bodies (2, 2′) on each of two sides of theat least one seal ring facing the electrode bodies (2, 2′) by theconnection (7.1).
 4. The electrode pack in accordance with claim 3,wherein at least one intermediate layer (6) is arranged between the twocontact areas (2.2, 2.2′) facing each other.
 5. The electrode pack inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the seal ring arrangement (7) is a partof a foil covering the contact area (2.2, 2.2′) which forms at least oneinsulating intermediate layer (6) between the contact areas (2.2, 2.2′)facing each other, and the part is connected with an associated one ofthe electrode bodies (2.1, 2.1′) by the respective connection (7.1). 6.The electrode pack in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one ofthe two electrodes (2, 2′) has at least one gripping tongue (4) forpulling the two electrodes (2, 2′) apart.
 7. The electrode pack inaccordance with claim 6, wherein the at least one gripping tongue (4) isconnected to one of the seal ring arrangement (7), and the at least oneintermediate layer (6).
 8. The electrode pack in accordance with claim7, wherein the at least one intermediate layer (6) is integrated for anelectrical electrode test.
 9. The electrode pack in accordance withclaim 2, wherein at least one intermediate layer (6) is arranged betweenthe two contact areas (2.2, 2.2′) facing each other.
 10. The electrodepack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the seal ring arrangement (7)is a part of a foil covering the contact area (2.2, 2.2′) which forms atleast one insulating intermediate layer (6) between the contact areas(2.2, 2.2′) facing each other, and the part is connected with anassociated one of the electrode bodies (2.1, 2.1′) by the respectiveconnection (7.1).
 11. The electrode pack in accordance with claim 1,wherein at least one of the two electrodes (2, 2′) has at least onegripping tongue (4) for pulling the two electrodes (2, 2′) apart. 12.The electrode pack in accordance with claim 11, wherein the at least onegripping tongue (4) is connected to one of the seal ring arrangement (7)and the at least one intermediate layer (6).
 13. The electrode pack inaccordance with claim 4, wherein the at least one intermediate layer (6)is integrated for an electrical electrode test.